Oradour-sur-glane

Within the church a memorial listing the names of soldiers from Oradour-sur-Glane that fell during the First World War remains attached to the wall with gunshot marks evident. The interior of the church had numerous bullet holes.

The church where 247 women and 205 children were slaughtered by the Germans.

The remains of a pram within the church.

Burnt car carcasses remain throughout the village.

The roading, tram and power infrastucture still remain undamaged, a juxtaposition with the balance of the village.

The infants' school.

Oradour-sur-Glane is a French village that was the scene of a massacre of its inhabitants on 10th June 1944 by a German Nazi SS Company. Only one woman survived to tell the story, the other 642 people perished.
The men were separated from the women and children, split into several groups and killed by machine gun fire. The 247 women and 205 children were locked inside the church, incendiary devices were ignited and the interior burnt. Any person that tried to escape was shot.
Twenty German soldiers were convicted of the war crime, yet most were released within 12 months of their conviction. None served longer than five years.
The village has remained in its original form, a national memorial to the horror of war. It took 69 years for a German President to visit the village.
Visiting Oradour-sur-Glane was a very moving experience. No talking is permitted in the village. The atmosphere is unbelievably sad. Because the village was burnt by the Germans, nothing made of wood remains. Yet everyday items made of steel have not been moved since that fateful June 1944 day. Sewing machines, bakers ovens, forges, lathes, beds and cars are identifiable. Through this evidence of occupation the tragedy assumes a reality that has left an indelible impression on us.

La Dordogne

La Dordogne is an outstandingly beautiful area of France. Undoubtedly the inspiration for some of the great art that has emanated from France.

Rocamadour

Mont-Saint-Michel perched on a cliff.

Don't jump

Fashion and fathering on display

View along the village

Lautrec

France is a vast network of villages that have you searching for the camera. Lautrec was particularly beautiful. A medieval town without the tourists, yet vibrant with the everyday function of a rural servicing village.

Peche Merle

https://www.google.com/search?q=peche+merle+downloadable+images&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=peche+merle+images
Our visit to the prehistotic rock art drawing at Peche Merle has been one of the highlights of our trip. The above link will give you an insight into some of the art that we saw. It will not reveal the spectacular setting of the caves, with massive caverns, impressive stalignites and an array of geological features. The drawings date from about 15.000 years ago.
Students section: I was impressed that the drawings also included triangles, and not just any old triangles - isosceles and equilateral triangles were included. The artists used a manganese oxide for the black lines, ochre (iron oxide) for the red and the rocks own 3D properties for visual effect.

Canal du Midi

The Canal du Midi was completed in the 17th century, connecting Toulose with the Mediteranean. Remarkably, the canal took only 14 years to complete, opening in 1681. The engineer who devised the project and spent his personal fortune in funding it died a year before its completion. The original canal has a length of 189km, although this has been subsequently extended to 241km. Cycle/pedestrian paths extend along either side. We were hoping to see the lock in action, but were disappointed.

Albi

The Albi cathedral is the biggest brick building ever built. It comprises 40,000,000 bricks. Construction began in 1292 and finished 150 years later. This would be like your great, great, great grandfather laying the first brick, and you the last brick. Even Gretel, who does not particularly enjoy big numbers, was impressed.

Gretel looking suitably impressed